8/4/2014

Did the President mean what he said about Israel? Because judging from the State Dept’s. release today, one would be compelled to think the answer would be a resounding no. One would also be compelled to think that Netanyahu was being put in his place.

In statement on ceasefire, State Dept spox Psaki praises the govt of Egypt and PA President Abbas. Netanyahu goes unmentioned.

42 Responses to ““The United States is proud to stand with you as your strongest ally and your greatest friend.””

“The United States is appalled by today’s disgraceful shelling outside an UNRWA school in Rafah sheltering some 3,000 displaced persons, in which ten more Palestinian civilians were tragically killed,” reads the statement from State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki. “We once again stress that Israel do more to meet its own standards and avoid civilian casualties.”

That is not the statement of an ally.

Psaki continues: “UN facilities, especially those sheltering civilians, must be protected, and must not be used as bases from which to launch attacks. The suspicion that militants are operating nearby does not justify strikes that put at risk the lives of so many innocent civilians.”

Like hell it doesn’t. International law is clear that that is exactly what it does justify.

Note the weasel words “suspicion” and “nearby”. It has been explicitly reported that missile fire was coming from right outside the school, and that the Israeli artillery also struck outside the school, i.e. probably the exact spot from which the missiles were coming. That is a 1000% legitimate target, no matter who else is there, and the USA would not hesitate to strike in the same circumstances.

Moshe Feiglin, the only libertarian in the Knesset, has published his plan for what to do about Gaza. Here’s a version from mid-July, and here’s his letter to Netanyahu from a few days ago, after Netanyahu’s stupid acceptance of a ceasefire led to the attack in which Hadar Goldin was taken.
As anyone can see, what he writes is simply common sense, and any normal person would be astonished that anyone could object to it. But we live in a world where it has been immediately denounced as “genocide”, and people are howling for him to be arrested immediately for writing this. Well, if this is what you call “genocide”, then there’s nothing wrong with it. It’s just a word, after all, like “racism”, and it doesn’t have the power to turn right into wrong merely by being applied to it.

As long as Israel gets military supplies from the US, like ammunition for their Iron Dome, they cannot afford to tell President Obama what they really think,
but,
a statement of support from the US might as well be Judas’ kiss. Just ask the Iraqis who cooperated with us and are now under siege by ISIS, or those who we let die under saddam after gulf war I, or the South Vietnamese, or Libyans who were surviving under the previous dictator, and the soon to be regretful Afghanis.

President Obama is full of more horse manure than the stables at Santa Anita Racetrack in the middle of a race meeting. Horse “race” that is for all folks out there who might call an Obama critic a “racist”.

Still I agree with MD in Philly that to some extent the Israelis need a US lifeline for ammunition and such; although they do have a vibrant local military industry.

1. …Like hell it doesn’t. International law is clear that that is exactly what it does justify.

Note the weasel words “suspicion” and “nearby”. It has been explicitly reported that missile fire was coming from right outside the school, and that the Israeli artillery also struck outside the school, i.e. probably the exact spot from which the missiles were coming. That is a 1000% legitimate target, no matter who else is there, and the USA would not hesitate to strike in the same circumstances.

Milhouse (9d71c3) — 8/4/2014 @ 10:12 pm

Jen Psaki doesn’t even have a kindergarten-level understanding of the LOAC. It’s not hard to understand, either. Simple, really.

The troops can understand it. Ban Ki-moon can even understand it.

Israel’s ambassador to the U.S., Ron Dermer, schools CNN on it using Ban Ki-moon’s own statement.

Apparently the press thinks Israel can’t attack lawful military targets if Hamas commits enough war crimes, such as using civilians as human shields and militarizing what would otherwise be protected sites like schools or hospitals. Leaving Hamas free to commit the war crime of indiscriminately targeting civilians.

As per usual the press, and his administration, get it precisely backwards.

Watching that dimwit make public statements for the State Department makes me think that there should be a dedicated hotline at the State Department that does nothing but play this message: “We apologize for putting Jen Psaki–otherwise known as a barely sentient embarrassment to protoplasm– in front of a microphone to represent the State Department.”

Regardless of Obama’s position (which, I suspect, is with his head firmly jammed up his ass) it isn’t reasonable to infer a President’s position on an International matter from the behavior of the State Department. The State Department has a long and disreputable history of setting its own Foreign Policy, often specifically at odds with whatever administration might be in the White House. I know it dates back to Truman (who the State Department wonks considered a stupid hick) and suspect it goes much farther. Someday these strip-pantsed idiots are going to irritate a President beyond bearing, and then whoever he is will lay waste to Foggy Bottom with fire and the sword. When that happens, even if the President in question is as bad as Obama, I will applaud the man.

OK, hold it. So far as I know, Obama’s kids have done nothing do deserve being visited with plague, and Michelle has done little enough (OK, her public utterances indicate she’s a dingbat. SHE didn’t get elected (unlike, say Shirley Jackson Lee), and most First Ladies have been dingbats. Eleanor Roosevelt springs to mind).

This kind of flame is degrading to the main point, which is that Obama has the sure hand at International Relations one would expect of a colony of cherrystone clams.

18. Regardless of Obama’s position (which, I suspect, is with his head firmly jammed up his ass) it isn’t reasonable to infer a President’s position on an International matter from the behavior of the State Department.

C. S. P. Schofield (e8b801) — 8/5/2014 @ 11:00 am

If he’s content to go golfing and leave everything up to them, I’m justified to infer he’s cool with whatever the DoS is saying on his behalf.

My point wasn’t that it isn’t reasonable to infer Obama’s policy from what Foggy Bottom does. It isn’t reasonable to infer ANY President’s policy from ghe actions of that nest of egotstical dim-bulbs. I think Obama should be run out of Washington on a rail, but making arguments about his policies based on the behavior of a government agency that has been rogue sine FDR passed doesn’t address the issue.

I probably should add Valerie Jarrett, the puppetmaster (to put his head up his own ass, President Prom Queen would have to pull it out of Valerie Jarrett’s first) went on “Face the Nation” and blamed the Israeli’s for the civilian casualties in similar terms as he clueless Jen Psalki.

“This is why the cease-fire is so important,” Jarrett said in an interview aired Sunday on CBS’ “Face the Nation.” “It’s a devastating situation. Israel absolutely has the right to defend itself, and we are Israel’s staunchest ally. But you also can’t condone the killing of all of these innocent children.”

UN Ambassador Samantha Power also clearly placed he blame on Israel and practically acused the Israeli’s of purposefully destroying people’s homes so they could pack them into these “civilian havens.”

Where they could more efficiently target and kill them in larger numbers (in full since it’s short, a public record, and because, context).

Today’s strike outside an UNRWA school in Rafah, where an estimated 3,000 people were taking shelter, is horrifying. This incident, which took the lives of at least ten Palestinians, including one UNRWA staff member, and injured many more, is only the latest in a conflict that has left dead approximately 1,750 people, including 11 UN staff, and injured many thousands more. Additionally, the UN estimates as many as 475,000 people have been displaced by the violence, of whom more than 259,000 are sheltering in 90 UNRWA schools, which are not equipped as shelters. It is imperative that all sides work towards a ceasefire that ends the rocket attacks and tunnel threat from Hamas, and the perilous situation faced by civilians in Gaza.

We call on all parties to take all feasible precautions to prevent civilian casualties, comply with international humanitarian law and respect UN facilities in Gaza. We further call on Israel to conduct a full and prompt investigation of this incident as well as the recent strikes that hit other UNRWA schools. Civilians, many of whom have been told to evacuate their homes by the Israel Defense Forces, must be able to find refuge in safe, UN-designated shelters.

Power is a cabinet secretary and thus, like Jarrett, inside the WH. Therefore, sine everyone has the same tone (what Hamas is doing is bad, but Israel is indefensible) I’m saying the DoS isn’t going rogue on this.

Hence King Putt is cool with it (if he’s even in the loop). Just like President Jarrett tells him to be.

Fair enough. I despise Obama, the Democrats who saw him elected when he lacked the qualifications to run a fast food franchise, and the State Department no matter who is in office. I hope and pray that any terrorist who contemplates nuking an American city; (a ridiculously suicidal undertaking, both individually and on a societal level) doesn’t realize just how much of a drag on the nation Washington DC is.

However, the thrust of the original post IS that Obama’s stated policy is contradicted by the numb-nuts at State, and that therefore one can deduce that he doesn’t mean it. I maintain that that doesn’t follow. Once can demonstrate that his policy is anti-Isael from many public facts, but the policy of the White House and the policy of the State Department seldom coincide save by random chance.

27. ..Once can demonstrate that his policy is anti-Isael from many public facts, but the policy of the White House and the policy of the State Department seldom coincide save by random chance.

C. S. P. Schofield (e8b801) — 8/5/2014 @ 2:12 pm

Normally I’d blame the DoS for that, too. But in this case considering how naive, rambling, incoherent, and contradictory Obama’s stated policies have always been this time I can’t blame them. Don’t believe me? his is the 2014 iteration of his national security and foreign policy vision, as delivered at the West Point commencement.

Most government departments, in every government (just because I don’t KNOW of an exception doesn’t mean there isn’t one) have a police that is based on a desire for promotions and larger budgets. The State Department of the United States adds Ivy League arrogance into the mix, and stirs in a heft load of Transnational Intellectual Hubris.

Something to keep in mind any time a career diplomat is haled out of an embassy and mauled by a riot.

As for Jug Ears at 1600 Penn. Ave, Clinton and Carter should get down on their knees and kiss his butt, because he make stem look competent, focussed, patriotic, and sane.

31. It is not surprising that Israel was not praised for negotiating the ceasefire, since Israel had no part in it – Israel has concluded that an agreement qua agreement with Hamas is not worth anything.

Sammy Finkelman (4eddd7) — 8/5/2014 @ 3:21 pm

Yes they did. Just no directly with Hamas. They negotiated through Egypt. Israel had demands that Hamas had to meet or else no ceasefire. How could they not participate?

It is not surprising that Israel was not praised for negotiating the ceasefire, since Israel had no part in it – Israel has concluded that an agreement qua agreement with Hamas is not worth anything.

Sammy Finkelman (4eddd7) — 8/5/2014 @ 3:21 pm

I think da Joooos concluded that some decades ago. The only reason they went with the ceasefire was a tactical one: it afforded them the ability to look like they were going to go along with Preezy 404’s demand, and allowed them to rub 404’s face in it when it failed just a literal few minutes later. Israel knew what the reaction would be. It just happened so quickly.

Milhouse @ 2. Moshe Feiglin, the only libertarian in the Knesset, has published his plan for what to do about Gaza. Here’s a version from mid-July,

Moshe Feiglin said:

Sinai is not far from Gaza and they can leave.

That’s not true. That’s not true.

Egypt will not let people with no other citizenship than Palestinian cross the border.

Now Israel could maybe have tried diplomatically to create this kind of safe zone in Egypt, and I don’t think it tried. They kept on telling people to go to Gaza City.

One reason maybe not to create this haven in Egypt, is if they did, armed Hamas terriorists would cross the border with the refugees, maybe even with rockets.

Israel, however, could have created a safe zone in the Negev, without needing Egyptian co-operation, but this would have greatly endangered Israeli soldiers. While you might think Egyptian soldiers would not be in as great danger, there still would be danger, and there are al-Qaeda affiliated terrorists groups operating in the Sinai. Or maybe they are affiliated with the group formally known as ISIS.

here’s his letter to Netanyahu from a few days ago, after Netanyahu’s stupid acceptance of a ceasefire led to the attack in which Hadar Goldin was taken.

They now say he’s dead, but they should have known this right away. It doesn’t add to a feeling of confidence in competence, or at least super-confidence, in the IDF. They also maybe should not have been taken by surprise. It could very well be the army was not warned that Hamas should not be expected, or relied upon, to keep the ceasefire, and they shouldn’t do, or not do, anything different because of it. Israel has now learned that lesson.

I think that’s still true, because I don’t think they’ve worked out their position. Still, the situation may now be more like that of Beirut in 1982 before the PLO left. The blockade will not end until the rockets are gone.

I think the IDF has overestimated the number of rockets destroyed. That, and the number of rockets left, are probably wild guesses.

Feiglin: A. The IDF will designate certain open areas on the Sinai border, adjacent to the sea, in which the civilian population will be gathered, far from the built-up areas that are used for rocket launches and tunneling. In these areas, tent encampments will be established, until relevant emigration destinations are determined. Electricity and water supply to the formerly populated areas will be disconnected.

That could have worked. Of course Hamas would immediately try to operate in that area. Israel did set up a field hospital inside Gaza for injured civilians (and wounded terrorists too, I guess, who wanted to surrender and who it was clear were for real) but Hamas prevented civilians from going there (by threats and by force and shooting I suppose)

Feiglin: B. The formerly populated areas will be shelled with maximum fire power. The entire civilian and military infrastructure of Hamas, its means of communication and of logistics, will be destroyed entirely – down to their foundations.

Feiglin: C. The IDF will divide the Gaza Strip laterally and crosswise, significantly widen the roads, take control of commanding positions, and destroy nests of resistance – if any remain.

A military tactic to limit Israeli casualties.

Feiglin: D. Israel will start to locate destination countries and immigration quotas for the refugees from Gaza. Those who wish to emigrate will be given a generous economic support package and will arrive at the receiving countries with significant economic capabilities.

A good ideas, but Arab countries would tend to refuse, unless something changes, and other countries would be afraid of terrorists. Virulent hatred is really ingrained in Gaza. Only among residents of Gaza do you have 67 year old (the Empire State Building shooter, 1997) and 76 year old terrorists (this year one man with a grenade who pretended to be woudned I think)

Feiglin: Those who insist on staying, contingent on proof that they have no affiliation with Hamas, will be required to publicly sign a declaration of loyalty to Israel. They will then receive a blue ID card similar to that of the Arabs of East Jerusalem.

Not a terrible idea. It doesn’t even have to be anything like loyalty toward Israel. Just a pledge of neutrality. If it doesn’t get a 15% or so refusal rate, it’s useless.

Feoglin: F. When the fighting will end, Israeli law will be extended to cover the entire Gaza Strip. The people expelled from Gush Katif will be invited to return to their towns and villages and the city of Gaza and its suburbs will be rebuilt as Israeli tourist and commercial cities.

This is kind of like, self-serving. It doesn’t need to be part of this.

Israeli Foreign Minister and Likud co-oalition partner Avigdor Liberman has floated the notion of the United Nations taking over Gaza – perfectly possible if Hamas agrees, but even if Hamas does, it is not clear, to say the least, that the UN would want to do it. The U.S. and some other nations maybe could force it to.